Wrapping paper control mechanism



arch 9, 1948. Q SANDBERG 2,437,560

WRAPPING PAPER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed NOV. 3, 1943 2 SheeS-Sheet l- .l .r u r n II Il II H Il Il H H l u .I u n l' 1| mi @mais is C. SANDBERG WRAPPING PAPER CONTROL MEANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 3, 1945 Hue: :2.3;

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Patented Mar. 9, 1948 WRAPPING PAPER CONTROL MECHANISM Oscar Sandberg, Defiance, Ohio, assignor to Lynch Package Machinery Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 3, 1943, Serial No. 508,828

7 Claims. 1 s

My present invention has to do with a mechanism for controlling wrapping paper sup-plied to a machine for wrapping articles, such as candy bars or the like, the mechanism being 'applicable to a wrapping machine of the general character disclosed in my Patent No. 2,283,097, dated May 12, 1942.

One object of the invention is to provide simple mechanism, which can be used in connection with the wrapping machine of said patent, and which is an improvement over my Patent No. 2,283,096, also dated May 12, 1942, ywherein are shown means for supporting a Web of wrapping paper, means for cutting the web into wrappers, means for feeding the web to a cutter, and means for feeding the wrappers cut thereby to the wrapping machine proper, an electric eye viewing mechanism of said patents being operated by marks on the web of wrapping paper to effect, through speed change gearing, the propulsion of the web of paper at a proper speed into the Wrapping machine, thereby keeping periodic advertising material on the wrapping paper in step with the candy bars, as they are fed to Wrapping position, so that the advertising material will always be centered on the bars, regardless of irregularities in paper feed, as caused by slippage and other factors.

The mechanism of my present application has to do particularly with the electric eye controlled speed changing mechanism, and comprises an adjustable speed friction drive operable normally at one speed, and its speed is changed per cycle of operation of the wrapping machine if called for by the electric eye.

Another object is to provide the speed changing mechanism in the form of a drive shaft and a driven shaft, one driven from the other through variable speed friction drive mechanism normally operating at a slightly lower speed than required to conform tc the cycling of the wrapping machine, a high speed operation being utilized as a modifying factor if required for each of the wrappers to be cut from the web, the electric eye viewing mechanism being operatively associated with the friction drive mechanism to bring it into play and to vary the time period of such play depending upon requirements determined by the amount that each wrapper is out of step with the wrapping machine.

More particularly, an object of my present invention is to provide a simple speed changing mechanism of all metal character, and eliminating the use of V-belts as in my patents, the present mechanism comprising two sets of friction discs normally operating ata slightly lower speedV than required and relatively adjustable to a higher speed than required, a simple arrangement of disc shifting means being provided, whereby the discs are so shifted in response to the passage of complete patterns on the web past a photoelectric viewing means.

Still another object is to provide a cam means to reset the friction discs to normal position after the photoelectric Viewing means has caused them to shift from low speed to high speed position, the relation of the cam Iand the period of actuation by the photoelectric viewing means determining the period of time during which the mechanism is operated at high speed in proportion to the period of time during which it is operated at low speed.

With the foregoing and othercontemplated as well as obvious objects in view, the invention cornprises the combination of elements and the arrangement of parts which are so combined with each other as to cooperate in the performance of the functions and accomplishment of the results herein contemplated. The invention comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I Figure l is a rear elevation of a wrapping paper control mechanism embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof and partly in section as taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a section of the wrapping paper or web used in my machine and controlled by the control mechanism herein described.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a sectional Figure 2.

The wrapping machine of my patents abovementioned are adapted for wrapping articles of irregular shape, such .as candy bars or the like. The mechanism of this application is adapted to feed a web of wrapping material to the wrapping machine, such web to be cut by the machine into individual wrappers, Iand the present mechanism being synchronized with the cutting mechanism, so that cutting of the wrappers from the web is performed at the desired point, even though the web of material may slip at times relative to its feeding means, all as shown in the patents, the patents, however, showing a double V-belt drive instead of a friction disc drive, as will be described in connection with the present invention.

Referring to the specific construction of the present mechanism, I show a vertical frame member F, two of which are used in the machine for SUPPOiting opposite ends of the various shafts of view on the line 5-5 of the machine. Only one of these frame members is shown in the attached drawings, reference being had to my previous patents for other details of construction,

A table top T connects the tops of the frames F together and the web of wrapping material is fed onto the table top as will hereinafter appear. The web itself is shown at W, and in Fgure 2 as a single line.

Journaled in the frame member F is a main shaft 24 having a gear 25 secured thereto. The gear 26 is driven in any suitable manner, as from a motor, as illustrated in my previous patents.

Wrappers for the articles wrapped in the Wrapping machine are supplied by the device of the present application in the form of the web W of the proper width, and of continuous length, wound on a reel (not shown in this application). The web W extends upwardly from the reel between an electric eye mechanism |58 and a light source therefor indicated at 199. The purpose of the electric eye mechanism is to have marks |62 on the web (see Figure 3) pass the electric eye, and the eye in turn regulates the speed of feeding the web and determining the position at which to cut it into individual wrappers W -before the wrappers are wrapped around the articles by the wrapping machine. 'I'he desirable point of cutting is indicated by dotted lines |94, so that the web printed with a repeated pattern (one for each article) will be cut exactly between the patterns. The web W may be either Cellophan-e 'or Wax paper printed with the trade-name of the company which makes the contents and the .name of the dealer vor distributor thereof, asis usually done.

The web W after leaving the electric eye IHi8 passes over .an idler roller '|56 and then around -a feed roll |68, Above 'the roll 158, fa second roll |19 is provided. Said rolls may be made of rubber or the like 't'o provid-e a good grip -on the web W and propel it toward the table top 'I' when the rolls are rotated as by sprockets '|84 and |85 and a chain |12.

The sprocket |84 for driving the chain |12 is mounted on a driven shaft |86. The shaft |86 is journaled in the frame member F and in a bracket |88. The shaft |85 has secured thereto a driven friction 4disc |99. A second vdriven friction disc |'9I is slidable and non-rotatable relative to the shaft and is urged toward r`the disc |90 by means of a spring |92. The spring '|92 is interposed between the disc 19| and a backing disc |93 stationary with' respect to the driven shaft |86.

For driving the driven shaft |86, I provide a drive shaft |98. The drive shaft in turn is driven through a clutch mechanism 292--294 from a sprocket 29S. vThe sprocket 296 is loose 'on the shaft |98 vand is retained in position by a collar 208. Both 'shafts 2i! and 98 'extend'on toward the left in Fig. l 'and have been broken off. The sprocket 295 is driven by a chain Z'IIl .from a sprocket wheel 2I2, the sprocket Wheel being secured to the main shaft 24. The 'clutch 292-- 294is adapted to be released and the shaft 198 to thereby be operated only when there is an article approaching position to be wrapped, as .fully shown in my previous patents, but forming no Dart of my present invention.

The operative connection between the 'drive shaft |98 and the driven shaft |85 consists of a pair 'of friction discs 194 coacting with the friction Ydiscs |99 and 19| and driven by a chain |95 from the drive shaft |98. The drive shaft has a sprocket |98 .for this purpose, and each of the discs |94 is mounted on a shaft |91 on which sprockets |99 are mounted, The single chain |95 extends around the sprocket |96 and both sprockets |91 as shown in Figure 2. For keeping the chain taut, an idler sprocket 20| is provided, and it is Carried adjustably on the bracket |89. For this purpose, the sprocket 29| is mounted on a shouldered clamp bolt 293 which 'is slidable in a ver-tical slot 285 of the bracket.

The shafts |91 Iare jounialed in bearings 2II carried by the upper ends of a pair of arms 2i3 and 214. These arms are journaled on the drive shaft |98 at their lower ends and are xed in relation tn each other by a yoke 2I1 (perhaps best shown in Figure 5).

The arm 214 has an eccentric 2I5 rotatable therein, the eccentric having pintle ends 2I6 rotatable in the yoke 2I1 itself. The yoke is U- shaped and has in each arm a slot 2I8, through which a pin 2 I9 extends, this pin passing through the other arm 2| 3. rThe pin 2|9 is thereby adjustable in the slots 2 I 8, but is limited in its movement away from the veccentric 2|5 by means of a set screw 229. A handle 22| is provided for rotatin-g the set screw 229 and thereby adjusting the spread of the arms 2 I3 and 2 I4 to effect a change in the speed of operation of the wrapper feeding mechanism as will hereinafter appear. A lock nut 222 is provided .for holding the adjustment wherever desired.

'Ihe location of the sprocket 29| is such as to result in a minimum of change in distance between th-e 'centers of the shafts |91 and the centers yof the sprocket and the shaft |98 when the arms 2 I 3 and 2|4 are swung toward or away from each other. Specifically, the clamp bolt 203 on which the idler sprocket 29| is mounted has its :axis lying in a plane through the axis of the shaft |-98 and 'a point between shafts |91 for this purpose. y

The arms 243 and 2|1| are T-shaped in cross section with their flat faces adjacent each other as shown in Figures 1 and 5, while at the eccentric ZIE and pin 249 each is enlarged into a suitable hub.. 'Obviously the set 4screw i220 predetermines the diameter lon'tlre friction discs |90 and I9I at which the peripheries of the friction discs |94 engage. `All of the four discs .are preferably made of hardened vsteel to minimize wear.

The eccentric 2|15 is approximately at its outer limit in Figure 2, so that it is obvious that any rotation thereof will m'ove the ams 2| 3 and 2 I4 toward eachother in opposition tothe action of the spring |92 tending to move the -disc ISI toward the disc 190. Therefore a speed-up of the drive shaft |86 can be effected 'since the peripheries of the discs |94 would then be contacting a smaller diameter of the discs |198 and I9I. For accomplishing such speed-up of operation, an arm 223 is mounted on one of the pintles 2 I6 of the eccentric '2 I5 and is connected by a link 224 with a stub shaft .-241, The stub shaft 241 is operated by the following described mechanism:

The stub shaft 2'41 extends from a lever 251 and through an arcuate slot 212 in the frame member The lever v251 is oscillatably mounted on the shaft |98. At .its inner end a retaining collar 259 is mounted thereon as lshown in Figure 1. Back of the frame member F, a lever 214, similar to the lever 251 is also oscillatably mounted on the 'shaft |98 and supports the stub shaft 241, so that it 'can be swung through 'its operating cycle without binding.

The :main 'shaft '24 has a cam 218 thereon for propelling :a rod 288 upwardly through the medium of a roller 280 carried by a fork 216. The roller engages the surface of the cam under constraint of the spring 244. The rod 268 is connaeted by means of a fitting 268 to the stub shaft 2 The lever 251 is oscillatably mounted on the drive shaft |98 and has a downward extension 242 normally engaged with a stop 246 by a spring 244. The stop 246 is secured to -a rocker arm 24B pivoted at 249 on a bracket 254. A spring 254 normally urges the rocker arm 248 downwardly to the position shown in Figure 2. For moving the ar'm 248 upwardly, I provide a solenoid 256 and a plunger cr core 258 to be elevated thereby when the solenoid is energized.

Referring briefly to the operation of the parts just described, if the stop member :246 were to remain in a lowered position instead of the raised position shown in Figure 2, it is obvious that during a period extending over about two-thirds of the revolution of the main shaft 24, the lever 251 Awould be rotated clockwise by the spring 244 to pull downwardly on the link 224, and thereby rotate the eccentric 2 I 5 to a position for permitting the driving discs |94 to move toward each other. This would result in the disc ISI being moved away from the disc |96 against the bias of the spring |92, and the discs |44 engaging the discs |90 yand ISI at a smaller circumferential line of contact. During this period of time, the drive shaft |86 would rotate at a higher speed. The duration of such period of time is shortened, however, by having the stop member 246 normally blocking the extension 242 of the lever 251 so that the spring 244 moves the eccentric 2|5 only a slight amount. By then actuating the solenoid 256, so that the stop 246 is removed from in front of the extension 242 after the beginning of the two-thirds period of revolution mentioned, the relative position in the two-thirds period when the solenoid 256 is energized constitutes the initiation of that period effective to shift from low to high speed for the shaft |86. The speed of the :feed rolls |68 and |14 is thereby governed in accordance with the marks |62 on the wrapper web B, since the solenoid is under control of the electric eye viewing mechanism |58. The operation in detail of this part of the 'machine will appear later on in the specification No attempt will be made to go into detail as to the electric eye viewing mechanism, the essential characteristics being continuous energization of the light source |69 and operation of the solenoid .256 only when the electric eye |58 is actuated, dueto a mark |62 passing between the light source and the eye, the solenoid circuit being thereby established.

Practical operation In the operation of my wrapping paper control mechanism, assuming that the shaft 24 is rotating when the article reaches a position to be wrapped, the clutch 292-244 is operated to cause the shaft |96 to rotate one revolution if only one article operates the clutch or to keep it continuously rotating as long as there are articles passing in succession to wrapping position. In this way, a wrapper is cut from the web and fed to wrapping position only when an article also comes to wrapping position.

The web feeding mechanism is normally operated at a speed somewhat lower than required to feed one 4wrapper to the machine during one cycle vof operation. This can be adjusted by means of the set screw 220 which changes the outer limits of spread of the arms 2|3 and 2|4.

Whenever one of the marks |62 of the web W passes the electric eye |58,'it effects energization of the solenoid 256. This results in depression of the stop 246 to permit the spring 244 to move the roller 28|] toward the shaft 24, the rise of cam 218 at this time being out of registry with the roller. This results in the eccentric 2I5 effecting a swinging of the arms 2 I3 and 2 I4 toward each other for speeding up the shaft |66. The speed up continues until the rise of cam 218 engages the roller 280 and raises it to the normal speed position for the driving mechanism for the shaft |85.

A variation in the time of speed up is had due to the solenoid 256 operating at different times depending upon the position of the marks |62 on the web W in relation to the operating cycle of the machine. Whenever one of the marks is a maximum distance behind where it should be. then the maximum period of speedincrease is effective. When the mark is a minimum distance behind where itY should be, then the mark will not be so far behind its required position for proper operation and consequently the solenoid 256 will be energized at a relatively later point in the rotation ofthe shaft 24, thereby reducing the time period of speed-up of the mechanism. During each revolution of the shaft 24, the solenoid will be energized to permit the spring 244 tov move the eccentric 2|5 to high speed position. The cam 218 at each revolution of the main shaft will reset the mechanism to the low speed position until the solenoid is again energized.

The present mechanism, I find much longer lasting and fool-proof than the double V-belt arrangement in my previous patents. An all-metal mechanism is here disclosed, wherein the change in speed is adjustable and effected by friction means of all-metal construction. The metal parts can be hardened to minimize wear, and when once set for a particular wrapper the machine rnay operate for an indefinitely long period of time without the necessity of Iany further adjustment.

Having described one specific embodiment of my invention together with thel operation thereof, I desire it to be understood that this form is selected merely for the purpose of facilitating.

disclosure of the invention rather than for the purpose of limiting the number of forms, which it may assume. It is to be further understood that various modifications, adaptations and alterations may be applied to the specific form disclosed to meet the 'requirements of practice without in any manner departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention except as set forth in theclaims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a drive mechanism, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, and means for transmitting power from said drive shaft to said driven shaft, said transmitting means being adapted to drive said driven shaft at different speeds and comprising a pair of larms pivoted onv said drive shaft, a friction drive disc carried by each arm, and a pair of friction driven discs on said driven Ishaft and normally engaged at one diameter by said friction drive discs, said arms when moved relative to each other changing the diameter at which said friction driven discs are engaged and thereby driven at a diiferent speed.

2. In a drive mechanism of the character disclosed, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, and power transmitting means including a friction drive between said driven shaft and said drive shaft, which friction drive has co-acting frictionally en- 

